Ear clip



y 1950 P. DAUVERGNE 2,509,726

EAR CLIP Filed Jan. 11, 1946 IN VEN TOR. HfP/PE @AZ/V'FG/Vi Si n ATTOP/VfVS Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '7 Claims.

The outstanding disadvantage of the conventional ear clip is that when it is desired to be worn, other than as an ear ornament, i. e., as a brooch on a blouse, waist, or the like, it must, because of its inherent construction, be attached to the edge of the garment, and this location of an ornament is contrary to the customary positioning of a brooch.

I aim to off-set this shortcoming, by providing an ornament which may be Worn on ones ear, or equally as well, as a brooch, at any point on a blouse, etc., where it will insure its maximum appeal, whether it be over the chest, or breast, 01' the edge or fold of a garment.

Generically, my invention involves a suitable ornamental subject or face plate, the rear of which is equipped with one or more pivoted tines provided with a removable guard. The ensemble may be used as an ear clip, or if preferred, upon detachment of the guard, the ornament may be employed as a brooch-the tines caused to pierce the fabric of the garment at any point, and securely locked thereto.

To the accomplishment of the recited objects, and others subordinate thereto, the preferred embodiment of the invention, resides in the construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the clasp closed.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation showing the guard removed.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating the tines in raised position.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the uprights supporting the tines, and the flat spring cooperating with same.

Fig. '7 is a similar view of the opposite end of the uprights and corelated parts.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section along lines 8-8 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective of the guard detached from the tines.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 5 designates an ornamental subject, as the representation of a flower, which will hereinafter be styled a face plate. Extending vertically from the reverse side of the plate is a miniature bridge structure, comprising essentially a pair of spaced uprights 6, and an integral bridge element 1. Across the rear of the bridge, extends a spring plate 8,

with a medial arched portion 9 and lugs It which fit rigidly into the outer extremities of the uprights.

The upper distal ends of the uprights are fashioned into trunnions II for the reception of pintles l2 extending axially from the cross-head [3, which latter also carries a pair of converging resilient tines M. (See Figs. 3 and 4.)

Formed medially of the cross-head I3 is a nub I5 designed to contact with the arched portion 9 of the spring plate and thereby yieldingly maintain the timed cross-head in open or closed position.

In conjunction with the tines, I utilize a guard 16, at the inner extremity of which sleeves I! are formed along opposite edges. And between the sleeves, the metal from which the guard is struck, is split longitudinally at two points, as at Hi, to present a spring tongue I9, projecting rearwardly slightly beyond the adjacent end of the guard. The outer extremity 29 of the guard fans out somewhat, and is concave with a semi-rotund contour, and an opening 2! in its base. Thus shaping the extremity of the guard, enables attachment to the ear lobe, and also serves as a purchase point in slipping on and off the guard without the likelihood of pricking the fingers.

The reverse side of the plate 5 is provided with a ring 22, of less diameter than the opening 2| of the guard, with which it is adapted to register when the guard is closed, as exhibited in Fig. 2.

Directly forward of the ring 22 is a small lock pin 23, hingedly connected to a support 24, and having an operating knob 25.

The precise design on the obverse side of the plate 5 is immaterial. Factually, a plate, as such, may be dispensed with, and a skeleton'frame, or its equivalent, used in lieu thereof. In this immediate connection, it is important only that the subject is ornate and appeals to the esthetic taste.

When worn as an ear clip, the ornament is in the assembled form depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, that is, the guard I6 is rigidly connected to the tines I4 by reason of the frictional engagement of the sleeves I! therewith, and the tongue is with cross head I3. In this set up, the concave or dished formation of the outer extremity of the guard serves in a dual capacity; firstly, the pointed terminals of the tines rest within the confines of the concavity and are thus prevented from accidently piercing ones fingers or clothing; and secondly, the under rounded surface of the concavity with its openin 2|, cooperates with the ring 22 to clasp and firmly hold the lobe of ones car. Obviously, when worn as an ear clip, lock pin 23 is adjusted so that it lies substantially flat against the plate.

When used as a brooch, the guard is simply disengaged from the tines; then the tines are free to be inserted at any point on a garment, the lock pin turned vertically into the fabric, and the tines then constrained into clasping relationship with the blouse, etc. It will be seen that in closed position, the outer terminals of the tines occupy a position below the top of the bridge structure and in close proximity to diametrically opposite sides of ring 22 on back of the face plate, which, taken in conjunction with the lock-pin 23, serve as a dual security against accidental loss of the brooch.

In its broader aspects the invention comprehends the employment, not only of the specific means described, but of equivalent means for performing the recited functions. By way of example, the term face plate is employed in a broad sense, and includes any type of ornamental subject; the word bridge is employed in a broad sense to denote any type of pivotal connection for the tines.

'I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising an ornamental face plate, a bridge mounted on the rear of the plate, a tine hingedly connected to the bridge, and a removable guard for the tine, said guard having a dished outer extremity.

2. A device of the character described, comprising an ornamental face plate, a bridge mounted on the rear of the plate, a tine hingedly connected to the bridge, and a removable guard for the pointed end of the tine, said guard having a dished outer extremity with an opening therein.

3. A device of the character described, comprising an ornamental face plate, a bridge mounted on the rear of the plate, a pair .of tines pivoted to said bridge, a guard carried by said tines, the outer extremity of the guard being concave and encompassing the pointed terminals of, the tines.

4. A device of the character described, comprising an ornamental face plate, a bridge mounted on the rear of the plate, a ring projecting vertically from the rear of the plate, a pair of tines pivoted to said bridge, a guard carried by said tines, the outer extremity of the guard being concave and encompassing the pointed terminals of the tines, the concave extremity of the guard having an opening which registers with said ring.

5. A device of the character described, comprising an ornamental face plate, a pair of uprights mounted on the rear of the plate, a bridge connecting said uprights, and said uprights hav ing trunnions at their outer ends, a spring plate disposed in the rear of the bridge and supported by the uprights, a cross-head having pintles movable in said trunnions, a projection carried by the medial portion of the cross-head and designed for engagement with the spring plate, a pair of tines extending from the cross-head, and a guard attached to the tines and provided with a spring tongue devised to ride the cross-head.

6. A device of the character described, comprising an ornamental face plate, a tine having one end hingedly connected to the rear of the plate, and a guard combined with the tine and removably attached thereto, said guard having a dished outer extremity for receiving the other end of the tine.

'7. A device of the character described, cornprising an ornamental face plate, a tine having one end hinged to the rear of the plate, and a guard combined with the tine and removably attached thereto, the guard having a dished outer extremit and an opening therein, the dished extremity receiving the other end of the tine.

PIERRE DAUVERGNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 437,550 Armentrout Sept. 30, 1890 2,285,051 Pujol June 2, 1942 2,303,267 Goodwin Nov. 27, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 522,262 Great Britain June 13, 1940 

